Baby squirrels sleeping in donated Coats for Cubs furs.

GIVE YOUR FURS BACK TO THE ANIMALS

All LocationsJan 2, 2015 to Apr 22, 2015

Provide comfort and bedding for orphaned and injured wildlife now through Earth Day, April 22, 2015. Donate your real fur apparel including coats and accessories, to our Coats for Cubs program at any Buffalo Exchange location. These donations are sent to rehabilitation organizations across the United States, and provide a natural and nurturing environment for the recovering animals. Since 2006, Buffalo Exchange has collected nearly 10,000 used furs through the Coats for Cubs program.

open positions

ENTRY-LEVEL BUYERSSpeedway & Campbell - FT/PT
Love fashion? Why not apply today! Your local Buffalo Exchange is always accepting applications for entry-level Buyer positions. Looking for cheerful, dependable, and energetic quick learners with knowledge of fabrics, styles, current retail trends and eras. Challenging, fun, fast-paced retail environment. As an employee, you'll receive on-the-job training in recycling fashion. No prior experience necessary. Part-time employees must be able to work 3 days a week, including at least one weekend day. This is not your regular retail job!

Join Buffalo Exchange, a values-based, growing organization practicing open-book management and business literacy training. A love of fashion and clothing is essential. Compensation is competitive and based on experience and credentials. Benefits include: health, dental, and vision insurance for employees working 20 hours or more per week; paid time off for part-time and full-time employees; profit-based bonuses; merchandise discount; a 401(k) retirement plan; career advancement; and extensive training.

"RIGHT WRONG TURN" BY DESERT LEAF MAGAZINE

Desert Leaf magazine featured Kerstin Block in “We Often Have More Abilities Than We Realize” in its December 2014 issue: “Forty-five years ago ... we bought a house on five acres near Kinney and Ajo roads ... the far west side, outside Tucson. … Eventually other no-so-savory elements moved into the area ... a bar that became a front for the less-than-legal activities. ... so it was shut down, and the owners had to sell the property, which was diagonally across from ours. Spencer, who was the consummate entrepreneur, said to me, \'Let’s buy the property so we can decide what to do with it.\'… In 2001, we bought the property, against my wishes, and started renovating its buildings: a restaurant, a group of little shops, and a large building in the back of the property that had been the motorcycle bar. … Shortly after we bought the second parcel, Spencer was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. On the commercial property, we renovated everything except the restaurant–Coyote Pause Café–and before long, people had moved into the shops and started running businesses. I even put in a big consignment store. Spencer wanted us to build a B&B on the back property. I gave in and said okay, and we began that project, too. Spencer was functional for quite a long time, but it was harder for him as the cancer progressed. … The project kept him going. But in 2009, Spencer died. So, here I was with this property teeming with activity and all kinds of development but not making much money. I had to get it organized and deal with it, which became a good thing for me. … When we bought the west-side property, I thought it was a mistake. The first lesson I learned from this project is that I have more abilities than I thought. ... On this project, I learned how to delegate better and work through others to get things done. I’ve been lucky in pretty much everything I’ve done, and Cat Mountain Station turned out how I wanted. … to be something really nice for the neighborhood, and people are glad we turned it around. The second lesson I learned from this project is that you should get involved with things you really want to do, not have to do, but if you’re thrust into a have to situation, figure out a way to deal with it.”

"STYLE BARGAINS" BY TUCSON WEEKLY

Tucson Weekly names Buffalo Exchange Best Clothing Fashions (Locally Owned) in October 2014: “There are a couple of stores with roots in Tucson that were pioneers traversing the land of sustainable living and recycle-reuse before it was cool. Buffalo Exchange has grown beyond the walls of the Old Pueblo, but the stores in Tucson remain what they have always been for the old folks and the young—places you can find style bargains. …”

"HALLOWEEN TIPS" BY ARIZONA DAILY STAR

Arizona Daily Star featured tips from Buffalo Exchange in “Halloween tips: Dress-up for grown-ups” on October 19, 2014: “…Now, here’s a scarier thought for the grown-ups: You have less than two weeks to figure out how you will dress up, if you haven’t already. … Stephanie Lew, the Buffalo Exchange marketing director, and her communication and production assistant Emma Robinson, have a few ideas to keep creative from becoming complicated. … If you’ve forgotten how to play dress-up, here are 13 tips to help you remember …”

BUFFALO EXCHANGE ON KGUN9

KGUN9 featured Buffalo Exchange during its Morning Blend segment on October 9, 2014: “…A huge shout out to Buffalo Exchange. … they’re doing a recycled fashion show at the POP event … This is an example of a cocktail attire, that’s really what we’re featuring … It’ll be really fun. Kerstin Block … started Buffalo Exchange 40 years ago, great example of our successful women business owners here in Tucson … So were so proud to have Buffalo Exchange based here in Tucson and I’m so thankful they’re sponsoring the POP event …”

"CREATING A CHIC WARDROBE" BY TUCSON.COM

Tucson.com featured Buffalo Exchange Marketing Director, Stephanie Lew in “Build a wardrobe without breaking the bank” on September 21, 2014: “…Local experts offer tips on creating a chic wardrobe that doesn’t cost a mortgage payment (or three). …Shop resale… But, do you know how to shop such a store? ‘Shop second-hand stores by starting the farthest away from the dressing room and working your way towards it, methodically going from rack to rack. Also, shop a size up and a size down when it comes to bottoms. Most people fit a size range of four different sizes between different brands.’ …”

"WILDLY-SUCCESSFUL SWAP-BUY-SHOP" BY ZÓCALO MAGAZINE

Zócalo Magazine featured Buffalo Exchange in “Style Setting, The Buffalo Way” (pages 11–12) in May 2014: “… Kerstin Block—who transformed a longtime passion into a deceptively clever business niche called Buffalo Exchange … she was the first to capture what’s now the zeitgeist formula of re-purposed style … Fashion front-running came naturally to Kerstin, who co-founded Buffalo Exchange in 1974 with her husband, Spencer. … Spencer put aside his teaching … and helped Kerstin build out the business … Although Spencer died in 2009 after a long struggle with cancer, the strategies he and Kerstin cultivated live on in Buffalo Exchange’s culture. ... ‘We have our training, but that love of clothing and style gene need to be there at the start…’ ‘Our buyers closely follow what’s vogue, but they also look for those quality styles that anchor any wardrobe. They’re trained to look for fine detail and forward design,’ says Rebecca. … ‘Fashion is personal,’ Kerstin continues. ‘Our pieces are about the details that will help the wearer capture his or her look and tell a story.’ … Kerstin and Rebecca believe Tucson is a fertile environment for innovation … Kerstin says it’s key to have a vision, a passion for the unusual. … the Buffalo Exchange 40th anniversary serves as a reminder of how significant this Tucson-grown house has been to the fashion and business-conscious …”

"TREASURE HUNTING" BY ARIZONA DAILY STAR

Arizona Daily Star featured Buffalo Exchange in “Buffalo Exchange brimming with UA student cast-offs” on May 6, 2014: “At Buffalo Exchange, one student’s cast-offs are another shopper’s treasure. … students are cramming their brains and purging their closets. For shoppers, that means about two weeks of treasure hunting. ... Through May, Buffalo Exchange is giving shoppers who sell a $5 coupon in addition to the cash or trade they take from the sale. ‘Five dollars at Buffalo is a big deal,’ Block said. … Block said students also have a tendency to ditch clothes purchased specifically for festivals or spring break. She expects to see trendy athletic wear from stores such as Lululemon Athletica and Lucy Activewear, along with Bohemian-style clothing, pieces with UA logos, and preppier fashions from stores such as J. Crew.”

"A TRUE TUCSON ORIGINAL" BY 3 STORY MAGAZINE

3 Story Magazine featured the Buffalo Exchange for “A True Tucson original, Buffalo Exchange, is celebrating its 40th birthday with a unique road trip across America. We ask: what makes this business tick?” in March 2014: “Forty years later, one of Tucson’s best exports … is celebrating its 40th birthday with a road trip in a vintage Airstream trailer. … At each store, the staff will fill the Airstream with vintage western clothing and other treasures, turning it into a roaming, dynamic pop-up shop. … Tattoo artist Allyson Bennett [illustrated] artwork for the [campaign] and all of the interior design and restoration work was done in-house. … While there have been a lot of logistics to deal with for each location … they are “ready to go”, Rebecca says. As to the future, Rebecca and Kerstin … are scouting locations to open new stores, and after the tour they plan to start taking the Airstream boutique to music and art festivals like Coachella. And although they are staying deeply rooted in the importance of people and principles, as Rebecca said: “We are always willing to look back to see what worked and always looking around to see what we could be doing. You cannot remain static. Change is inevitable.”

"FASHION TELLS A STORY" BY ARIZONA DAILY STAR

The Arizona Daily Star featured Buffalo Exchange’s archivist, Inara Edrington in “Joy springs from 40 years of Buffalo Exchange photos” on March 9, 2014: “At Buffalo Exchange, fashion tells a story. That’s where company archivist and resource librarian Inara Edrington comes in. … Ask her about old ads or the thousands of photos saved throughout the years, both digitally and on film. “People like to see old photos, and it’s just fun,” Edrington, 43, says. “Especially with fashion, you can see over the decades how it has changed.” … Edrington has sifted through thousands of photographs now organized in hardcover binders and digital folders. “You look at the photos, and you see everybody is smiling,” Edrington says. “Everybody is very up, very happy, very into fashion. They’re always trying on outfits and posing.” That was new for Edrington, who had spent 10 years as an archivist for the National Parks Service. … “Looking at old photos and getting to know the people behind those photos was just fun,” Edrington says of stories she pieced together from archives. “You get their papers and photos and you get to learn by reading and seeing their photos. The same thing happens here when you see photos in the store.””

"A ROLLING POP-UP SHOP" BY LOCAL FIRST ARIZONA

Local First Arizona featured Buffalo Exchange in “Buffalo Exchange takes its 40th Anniversary on the road” on March 6, 2014: “Turning 40 is fun when you’re fashion retailer Buffalo Exchange. To celebrate its 40th Anniversary, Buffalo Exchange staff painstakingly renovated a 1969 Airstream Land Yacht to send on tour across the country. Staff spent over a year turning the old trailer into a work of art and commissioned tattoo artist, Allyson Bennett ... The Airstream was completely gutted and rewired by Buffalo Exchange maintenance staff. “The maintenance staff did an amazing job,” says Dana Whitney, Store Development Coordinator. “They fixed up the exterior, interior and even built custom steps.” Other staff members also contributed, converting the interior into a rolling pop-up shop. … “It really is a labor of love,” says Dana. There is even a special suitcase that functions as a shrine to all the Buffalo Exchange locations. As it makes each of its stops, staff from each location will make contributions to the shrine. Be sure to catch the trailer live on its journey across the country. At each stop, the trailer will be stocked with unique vintage items for sale. There will also be fun giveaways.”

“COOL, HIP, FUNKY BUY/SELL/TRADE” BY ACTIVERAIN

ActiveRain featured Buffalo Exchange in “Happy 40th Anniversary Buffalo Exchange!” on March 6, 2014: “Buffalo Exchange, if you've never heard of it, is a cool, hip, funky buy/sell/trade clothing and accessories store that was founded in beautiful Tucson in 1974. … Tomorrow, they're kicking off their anniversary celebrations - starting with the University store (Speedway and Campbell), the eastside Tucson store on Saturday and then we get to celebrate with them on Sunday at their downtown store! … It may sound biased but the crew that runs this store is great. They really are. They're good community business partners, active with all of the events that happen downtown and, well, just fun! Trust me when I say it's VERY hard to walk by their windows without going in and spending some money! At each of the locations, you're going to get a chance to check out their 40th Anniversary Airstream! Here's a 'sneak peek' because I don't want to spoil the surprise … Congratulations, Buffalo Exchange, on 40 years!! Thanks for helping all of us shop local!

"A FUN, QUIRKY PLACE TO SHOP" BY 10BEST

10Best featured Buffalo Exchange’s sibling, Buffalo Trading Post in “Buffalo Trading Post Opens in Unique West Tucson Shopping Center” on March 2, 2014: “The next time you're looking for a fun, quirky place to shop in Tucson, head to the city's far west side for an afternoon of browsing at Buffalo Trading Post. The new 3,500-square-foot retail space specializes in new and gently used clothing, shoes, fashion accessories and housewares. You'll also find a small and unique selection of furniture, home decor items and Mexican imports. Buffalo Trading Post is the brainchild of Kerstin Block, the founder of the mega-successful Buffalo Exchange New and Recycled Fashions. Block calls Buffalo Trading Post the "older sibling" to Buffalo Exchange … Although most of the clothing inventory at Buffalo Trading Post is geared toward women, there's a small selection of men's items, including Western wear and vintage Hawaiian shirts. … Textiles, serapes and wall hangings from Mexico and South America are also for sale. Like its sibling store, Buffalo Trading Post operates on the principal of buy, sell and trade. … Buffalo Trading Post is located at Cat Mountain Station, a restored 1950s-era artisan shopping center located just west of central Tucson. It's a convenient stop if you're heading to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum or Old Tucson Studios for the day.”

"CAPTURES THE STORE'S UNIQUE SPIRIT" BY THE DAILY WILDCAT

The Daily Wildcat featured Buffalo Exchange in “Buffalo Exchange celebrates 40th with tour” on February 28, 2014: “Buffalo Exchange is going on a road trip to celebrate its 40th birthday. … In keeping with the company’s commitment to recycling the trailer is decked out in thrift store, salvage yards and flea market finds. … Tattoo art designed specifically for the project was used on the exterior of this “land yacht” for its retro cowgirl theme. … Throughout the trailer’s eclectically designed interior are old pictures of the owners’ early days, that give it a groovy vibe. … The tour kicks off March 7.”

"REALLY COOL VEHICLE GRAPHICS" BY SIGN AGE

Sign Age featured the Buffalo Exchange Airstream in “Buffalo Exchange gets a Trailer Wrap from Sign Age!” on February 21, 2014: “Buffalo Exchange is celebrating 40 years of new and recycled fashion. They started right here in Tucson and have expanded across the country. In celebration they will be touring the country in a '69 Airstream starting in March. … Sign Age had the pleasure of wrapping the Airstream with really cool vehicle graphics designed by their creative marketing team. We had a lot of fun working with them on the production and installation of the graphics.”

"FIRST STORE OF ITS KIND FOR THE “BUFFALO” FAMILY" BY ARIZONA DAILY STAR

Arizona Daily Star featured Buffalo Exchange’s sibling store, Buffalo Trading Post in “Buffalo Trading Post opens west of Tucson” on February 20, 2014: “The founder of the Buffalo Exchange chain has opened a new store with an expanded inventory targeted toward adults on the far west side of Tucson. Buffalo Trading Post, 2740 S. Kinney Road, opened Saturday in the Cat Mountain Station shopping center, near Old Tucson Studios. … Buffalo Trading Post specializes in brands such as Chico’s, Loft and Coldwater Creek, to name a few. It also has Mexican imports, pottery and mid-century kitchenware such as older Pyrex dishes and Fiestaware. The store carries a limited inventory of men’s items as well, including vintage Hawaiian shirts and Western wear. The idea to open a store targeted toward adults came to Block after the 3,500-square-foot space had been vacant in her shopping center. “I decided I had to put something there,” she said. “And people have been asking me for this kind of store. People who like interesting clothes would like a place to shop.” The new store operates on the same principal of Buffalo Exchange — buy, sell, trade. But, the two stores are not related, meaning customers cannot use trade credit from Buffalo Exchange at Buffalo Trading Post and vice versa. … This is the first store of its kind for the “Buffalo” family. And, depending on how it goes, it might not be the last. More stores are possible, Block said. “We’ll see how this one goes first. I’m sure there’s a market for it.”

"TUCSON SUCCESS STORY, BORN OUT OF A SIMPLE LOVE FOR CLOTHING" BY DOWNTOWN TUCSONAN

The Downtown Tucsonan featured Buffalo Exchange president and founder, Kerstin Block, in “Buffalo Exchange: A Sustainable Tucson Success Story Celebrates 40 Years” on February 13, 2014: “An enterprising young Swedish woman, who found herself living and working in the Old Pueblo after marrying her sweetheart, started a small resale clothing shop called Buffalo Exchange. … with the encouragement and support from her husband, Spencer, she was able to make the leap towards starting her very own store. … Her approach, which has evolved into a company model predicated upon sustainability and socially responsible retail practices, originated by simply putting the focus on clothes in a fun-driven boutique environment. … As of December 2012, the company now has 46 stores and 3 franchises in 17 states ... It remains a fantastic Tucson success story, born out of a simple love for clothing and a harnessing of that very human thrill of finding a good deal. … In terms of celebrating their 40th Anniversary, Block alludes to a cavalcade of special events and promotions planned for Buffalo Exchange.”

ARTS AWARD GOES TO BRENNA CURRY

The Sierra Vista Herald featured Buffalo Exchange and the 2013 Buffalo Exchange Visual Arts Award recipient in “Buffalo Exchange honors Bisbee artist” on January 17, 2014: “Buffalo Exchange, a privately owned, family-operated fashion resale retailer based in Tucson, will honor Brenna Curry, a metal artist with the Vixen Fine Art Metal Gallery in Bisbee, as the recipient of the 2013 Buffalo Exchange Visual Arts Award … award funded by the Buffalo Exchange Fund for the Arts. Held at the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona, the Buffalo Exchange Fund for the Arts has awarded more than $160,000 to individuals in the Southern Arizona art community since 1994. Curry’s metal works are mostly on stainless steel, where she incorporates exposed metal under the paint that gives a holographic feeling. … Nominators of potential recipients can remain anonymous. This year, the person who nominated Curry cited her tenacity, perseverance, and willingness to stay true to herself and her art. … Each year, candidates for Buffalo Exchange’s Visual Arts Award are nominated and selected by two panels of experts who are familiar with the Southern Arizona arts scene. The focus of the award changes from one year to the next, highlighting important contributors to the arts, or emerging artists in the visual arts and performing arts – ones that are not necessarily well known but who are showing great promise in fulfilling the highest standards of excellence.”

Starting a business can be a daunting task. Imagine failing to learn new skills, losing your job, and raising a family. For Kerstin Block, those past failures would soon become successful achievements with an idea to open a unique clothing store. In a recent interview with Tucson Lifestyle, Buffalo Exchange president, Kerstin Block revealed “I love to shop, and I have the rummaging/digging instinct.” Her addiction to thrift stores and swap meets naturally helped her and Spencer Block to open the first Buffalo Exchange in 1974 in an old union office across from the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona. Today Kerstin and her daughter, Rebecca, run the family business with 48 stores in 17 states. Through the decades, Buffalo Exchange has become a thriving resale fashion retailer. In the interview Kerstin and Rebecca discuss how they have maintained the business over the years: “We have worked very hard to remain fashion-oriented,” said Rebecca, “Buffalo Exchange is very unique—you never know what you are going to find!” “We go by style rather than brand name,” noted Kerstin, “We are very honest with our customer about what an item will sell for,” Rebecca added. Read Full Article >

BUFFALO EXCHANGE RECEIVES LUMIES ARTS & BUSINESS AWARD

The Tucson Pima Arts Council awarded Buffalo Exchange a 2012 Lumies Arts and Business Award for the Large Business Partner category on June 15, 2012 at Tucson's Historic El Casino Ballroom. Now in its 11th year, the Tucson Pima Arts Council created the Lumies to encourage everyone to celebrate the outstanding arts “luminaries” that contribute to Tucson and Pima County’s unique creative vitality. The Buffalo Exchange owners, have always believed in giving back to the community. They partnered with the Community Foundation of Southern Arizona to establish the annual Buffalo Exchange Arts Awards where emerging local artists are recognized for their creativity, innovation, and excellence in the arts. Since 1994, nearly $150,000 has been awarded to individuals in the arts community through the Buffalo Exchange Arts Award. Watch NPR's Arizona Public Media interview with Kerstin Block, Buffalo Exchange co-owner and President.

CALLED "A MODEL ENTREPRENEURIAL FIRM" BY BIZ TUCSON MAGAZINE

Biz Tucson Magazine includes Buffalo Exchange in “Startups Power New Economy,” Spring 2012 issue: “Eight Early Gazelles. In Southern Arizona, our economic prosperity now needs to be driven by human and knowledge-based assets – entrepreneurs and innovators working together to create and grow scalable, idea-based companies. We call them ‘gazelles’… Here are eight examples of eight extraordinary Tucson gazelles… 4. Buffalo Exchange was opened in 1974… Heralded as among the first to buy, sell, trade and take clothing items and accessories on consignment, Buffalo Exchange is a model entrepreneurial firm… Business model innovation, lifestyle and social purpose are keys to this highly successful, non-technological, scalable national enterprise.”

"The Buffalo Exchange closest to campus... always has a good selection of stylish finds.” -- “Wildcat style for anyone at any budget,” Arizona Daily Star, Tucson, Aug 25, 2011

“If you are looking for a deal on accessories, this is where you will find it... They have a great selection of things like screen print tees for guys.” -- Zocalo Magazine, “Recycled Treasures,” June 2011